Airports
3.6
Dubai International
Dubai · DXB · 3.6 out of 5
Abroad
Checked 3 November 2026Secondary sources only
What we could not confirm
- Whether the entry and transit ban on Iranian passports is still in force
- Exemptions for UAE residents or Golden Visa holders
- Airport on-time percentage
Scores
- Getting there
- Dubai Metro Red Line stops at Terminals 1 and 3 and the airport is minutes from Deira. But since 1 April 2026 Emirates and flydubai have said Iranian passport holders cannot enter or transit the UAE; the UAE foreign ministry called reports inaccurate, and as of September 2026 the exact rule could not be confirmed. Assume you cannot use Dubai until an airline confirms it will carry you.
- Terminal and queues
- Terminal 3 is Emirates and flydubai; Terminal 1 serves other foreign carriers; Terminal 2 served the Iranian airlines before they were suspended on 24 September 2026. Terminals are large and well-run but passport lines at Terminal 1 are long.
- Connections and transit
- Normally one of the world's best hubs, but with Iranian passports barred from transit it currently scores 1 for Iranians. Doha, Istanbul and Muscat are the alternatives.
- Food, rest, SIM, prayer room
- Prayer rooms, halal food, 24-hour shops, lounges, showers, SIM kiosks and sleep pods. Iranian bank cards do not work.
- Delays and cancellations
- Not in Cirium's published 2025 lists; regional airspace closures in 2025 and 2026 caused mass cancellations. Treated as average.
What is good
- Metro into the city and superb terminal services
- Huge onward network if the ban lifts
What is not
- Iranian passports barred from entry and transit since April 2026, status unclear
- Iranian airlines suspended since September 2026
Tips
- Check Parvazyar advisories and the airline's own notice for Iranian nationals before booking anything via Dubai
- If you hold UAE residency or a second passport, ask the airline in writing whether you will be boarded